BIODIVERSITY OF SUBTERRANEAN WATERS: REDESCRIPTION OF POORLY KNOWN NIPHARGUS JULIUS STOCH 1997 (CRUSTACEA: AMPHIPODA: NIPHARGIDAE) FROM ITALY (CONTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE AMPHIPODA 314)

The subterranean species Niphargus julius Stoch 1997 (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Niphargidae), known from Prealpi Giulie (Friuli-Venetia Giulia region in Italy), described by Stanko Karaman (1954) as Niphargus stygius d`anconae, ssp. n. from cave “Grotta near Villanuova”, was later renamed as Niphargus julius, new name, by F. Stoch (1997), because name “danconae” was already used for another species, Niphargus danconai Benedetti 1942 described from Verona (Italy). Nipharus julius was collected in various subterranean waters, mainly caves of Prealpi Giulie region, but after the short original description of this taxon of S. Karaman (1954), this species was never described and figured more in detail. This species is here described and figured based of material from type-locality. The some relations of this species regarding other similar species from NE Italy are discussed.